PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Alejandro Pereira scored a goal and added an assist, Delentz Pierre and Rey Ortiz also found the back of the net, and Jacobo Reyes tallied a pair of assists as the Pilots topped the No. 23 CSUN Matadors 3-1 on Friday night at Merlo Field. It's the first goal in the career for Pierre, and Ortiz claims the game-winner.
 
Pierre's goal came in the 22nd minute with the game scoreless. Reyes whipped a corner kick into the area, and Pierre timed it just right to finish with a perfectly placed header inside the right post. Pierre is a freshman outside back playing in his first season with the Pilots (4-2-1).
 
The Matadors (4-2-1) did have some chances during the match's first 45 minutes, but goalkeeper Nico Campuzano was solid between the pipes to preserve the Portland lead. In the 32nd minute, Campuzano made a stellar kick save on a shot from Ethan Benhan.
 
Ortiz then pushed Portland's advantage to 2-nil when he and Pereira connected on a give-and-go in the 53rd minute. Ortiz played the initial ball to Pereira, who did well to fight off a pair of defenders to get a touch on it and find Ortiz. The senior did the rest, beating the keeper with a low shot inside the left post for his first goal this season.
 
The Matadors pulled one back just two minutes later when Daniel Trejo made a lengthy run with possession all the way into the area. He then found the feet Johnny Rodriguez, who hit one towards the frame. The shot took a deflection before making it past Campuzano to make it a 2-1 game.
 
Campuzano made another clutch save when he tipped a header over the crossbar in the 60th minute, and Pereira nearly added to the Portland lead with a hard-hit shot towards the right post that was stopped by the CSUN keeper, Paul Lewis.
 
In the 83rd minute Pereira would not be denied when he provided an insurance goal. Reyes again played a fantastic ball into the 18-yard box on a free kick, and Pereira was there to collect his third goal this year, this one coming on a header.
 
Campuzano recorded three saves on the night, while Lewis countered with two.
 
The game with the Matadors was the Pilots' lone match this weekend as they don't take the pitch again until traveling to Seattle to play the Washington Huskies on Sunday, Sept. 29.